Apparatus for building roads



Sept. 15, 1936. 41 H; MQSEL 2,054,436

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed Nov. 15, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Joseph H M0521 WyMA -V ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 15, 1936. MOSEL APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed Nov. 15, 1934 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Joseph H M0561 A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 15,1936. H M L 2,054,436 APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed Nov.15, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I BY M ATTORN/YYS.

Patented 15, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Joseph IL Mosel, Columbus,Ohio, assignor to The. Jaeger Machine Company, Columbus, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application November 15,- 1934, Serial No. 7.53.210

V 25 Claims. My invention relates to apparatus for building roads. Ithas to do, more specifically, with apparatus which is adapted toreceive. asphalt or other bitumen material and to spread it across asurface to be treated, forming therefi'om a layer or slab of the desiredthickness and contour and having straight edges. However, there arecertain features of my invention not necessarily limited to thespreading of asphalt or other bitumen materials.

In the past, there have been several machines devised for this purpose.However, these prior art devices are not entirely satisfactoryinoperation. This type of machine is sometimes used'for spreadingasphalt or other material over an old roadbed or over a roughly gradedor other rough surface. The prior art machines which have been used forthis purpose are of such a type that any irregularities in the surfacebeing covered are reflected and-greatly exaggerated in the surfaceproduced by a machine of this type. Thus,

it is practically impossible to produce, with the prior art machines, asurface which is even and which does not have a large number of raisedand depressed portions, unless the surface which-is being covered isalready finished evenly. Another disadvantage of some of these prior artmachines resides in the fact that it is necessary 4 to employ side formsupon which the machine operates and which limit the spreading of thematerialin orderto produce a surface with straight edges. It is obviousthat these side forms are expensive and also require a large amountof-labor and expense to install them."

. keep on their proper course.

One of the objects of my invention is to'provlde apparatus of the typeindicated which will receive asphalt or other bitumen material and whichwill spread such material across the surdevice of the type indicatedwhich will formthe layer or slab withstraight edges without the use ofside forms which are set along the edges of the surface to becovered.Another object of my invention is toprovide apparatus of the typeindicated which is partic- 5 ularly adaptable to the spreading ofmaterial over an old roadbed or over a roughly graded or other roughsurface, the apparatus being of such a type that the irregularities inthe'surface being covered will not bereflected in the surface 10produced by 'the machine and, consequently, the machine will produce asurface which is very even and which will not be "wavy.

,Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the typeindicated which is provided 16 with spreading means of such a naturethat it will efliciently spread asphalt or other sticky material acrossthe surface being treated.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the typeindicated which is of such 20 a nature that is may be readily guided andkept along its proper course.

In its preferred form my invention contem-j plates the provision ofapparatus of the type indicated, comprising an outer unit which includes25 a pair of runners which are adapted to be drawn along the surface tobe covered'and which also .serve as side forms for limiting spreading ofthe material oh-the surface to be covered therebyproducing straightedges on the layer or slab 30 produced.. These runners are ofconsiderable length and,'consequent1y, even though they do operatealonga rough surface, the effect of the raised portions and depressions,in the surface being covered, thereomwill be negligible. Withv acrossthe surface to be covered in both directions and will compact it againstthe runner members a which will serve as side forms. I also provide ascreed member which will level off the material spread by the spreadingmember to the desired thickness and contour. This screed member is facebeing covered. Consequently, even though the surface on which themachine operates-is rough, the surface produced by the machine will bevery even. means for propelling the machine along the surface to becovered. Furthermore, I provide means whereby it is possible to guidethe machine and to keep it on its proper course.

The preferred embodiment of my inventionis illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designatecorresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of a road-building apparatus made inaccordance with the principles of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the front end of my machine.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but of the rear end of mymachine.

Figure 5 is a detail in perspective, partly broken away, ofa portion ofmy machine, showing a portion of the hopper, spreader, screed member andone of the runner members.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of my machine.

Figure '7 is a detail in perspective, partly broken away, of a portionof the screed unit of my machine and associated .parts.

Figure 8 is a side elevationof a modified form of my machine.

The outer or runner unit With reference to the drawings, andparticularly to Figures 1, 2, and 6, I have shown my apparatus ascomprisinga pair of runner members I, one of which is disposed at eachside of the machine. These runner members are adapted to slide along thesurface to be covered by the material spread by the machine.

These runner members are quite heavy and are made of metal. Each of therunner members includes a middle section 2 which is of substantiallyrectangular shape and which is of considerable length. This section 2comprises a body portion which has a peripheral flange 3 extendingentirely along its edge and projecting outwardly therefrom. To theforward end of this section 2, a section 4 is secured. This section ispreferably oi the shape indicated, having its upper edge downwardly andforwardly inclined as at 5. The

forward portion of "the lower edge is upwardly and forwardly inclined at6. Thus, there will be no danger of the forward end of this section 4digging into the surface being covered. This section 5 is also providedwith a peripheral flange 1, similar to flange 3, and projectingoutwardly therefrom. The flange at the rear side of the section ispreferably rigidly bolted to the flange 3 at the forward side of section2, as indicated at 8. I

The rear end of section 2 of the runner member has another section 9pivotally secured thereto. This section 9 is practically identical withsection 4 but has a rearwardly and upwardly curved lower edge In. Thesection 9 has a pair of lug members I I disposed on the forward endthereof which overlap a pair of lug members [2 formed on the rear end ofthe section2. A rod I3 passes through aligning openings in the lugs Hand I2, and pivotally secures them together. Thus, it will be obviousthat the section 9 may be swung I also provide suitabletractionlaterally into or out of alignment with the section 2. Arunner'plate I4 is suitably fastened to the lower edge of the section 9,extending the entire lengththereof. A second runner plate I5 is suitablyfastened to the lower edge of section 2 and section 4 and extends fromthe forward end of section 4 to the rear end of section 2. These runnerplates are of substantial width so that they will readily slide over thesurface upon which they operate and will not dig thereinto. The sections9 are pivotally connected to the sections 2 to facilitate movement 'ofthe machine around curves, as will appear more clearly later. Further,the runner member at one side of the 'machine is tied to the'runnermember at the other side of. the machine in a manner which will bedescribed subsequently.

The inner or spreading unit Within the runners a second unit I6 isdisposed which may float up and down without having any effectwhatsoever on the unit of which the runner members form a part. Thisunit l6 consists of a pair of side members l1, each of which is composedof a body portion l8 comprising a plate of metal which has a peripheralflange I9 extending outwardly therefrom. These side members I! aredisposed within the runner members and are slightly spaced therefrom sothat they may move up and down without interference with the runnermembers. The side members l! are of considerably greater height than thesections 2 of the runner members and extend from a point close to thelower edge of the runner members to a point a considerable distanceabove the upper edge of the sections 2 of the runner members. They areof practically the same length as the sections 2. The side members aresecured together by transversely extending beams 20. One of these beamsis disposed at the forward ends of these side members l1 and the otherat the rear ends thereof (Figure 2). Thus, the side members I! arerigidly] tied together.

Adjacent the forward ends of the side members H, a material-receivinghopper 2| is formed. This hopper is adapted to receive the material tobe spread and extends transversely for the entire width of the machine.Theforward wall of this hopper is formed by a plate member 22, whichextends transversely of the machine and which has its ends suitablysecuredto the inner surfaces of side members l1.

(Figures 2 and 5.)

This plate member is inclined forwardly and up wardly as shown. Theupper and' forward edge of the plate member 22 is strengthened byanangle member 23 and this angle member' is braced by a pair of verticallyextending. plates 24 having their upper ends suitably, secured theretoand having their lower ends rivetedfto the transversely extendingbeam 29at the rear end of the unit It. The rear wall of this hopper 2| isformed by a transversely extendingplate 25 which has its' ends suitablysecured to tne rality of narrow blades 32 secured thereon.

These blades 32 are arranged helically on the shaft 3|. The blades onthe section 28 are arranged to feed the material -towards one side ofthe machine while the blades on the other section 29 are arranged tofeed the material in an opposite direction towards the opposite side ofthe machine. Thus, when the spreading member is rotated, the materialwill be spread in opposite directions and will be compacted against theside forms formed by the runner members I have found that by employingnarrow blades, as illustrated, asphalt and other sticky materials may bevery efficiently spread. -By using a plurality of small blades insteadof continuous screw blades, less power is required to rotate thespreading member and the sticky asphalt or other material does notreadily collect on the blades. 4

The outer ends of shaft 3| of the spreading member are mounted inbearing members 33 disposed at the lower edges of the side members H.The spreading member is so mounted that the blades thereof will extenddown below the lower edges of these side members (Figures 3 and 5) theinner unit It floats up and down and, consequently, the spreading member21 moves up and down, the end of shaft 3| will merely move up and downin slot 34.

The inner floating unit I5 is tied to the outer rlmner unit in thefollowing manner and in such a way that the inner unit will be permittedto float up and down without affecting the outer unit at all. To tiethese two units together at the forward end of the inner unit I6, Iprovide a plurality of tie rods 35 (Figure 5). A pair of these tie rodsis provided for connecting the runner -member at one side of the machineto the inner unit It and a second pair is provided for connecting therunner member at the opposite side of the machine to the inner floatingunit l5.

Each of these tie rods 35 has its inner end pivotally connected to anL-shaped bracket member .36 by means of a bolt 31. The bolt 31also-passes through a slot 33 formed inthe upstanding plate 24 in orderthat the bracket member 36 will be slidably mounted on the plate 24. Theprojecting portion of bracket member 36 has a bolt 39 passing through anopening formed therein. This bolt 39 is adjustably mounted in a lug 40formed on the outer surface of plate 24 in line with slot as. Byadjusting this bolt and nut mechanism 39, the position of the bracket 35along slot 33 may be changed. v

The outer end of each of the tie rods 35 projects out through a slot 4|formed in the side member II. The tie rod then extends through'.

a corresponding slot 42 formed in the section 2 of. the runner memberadjacent its forward edge. The ou er end of the tie rod 35 ispivotallyconnected flange on the runner member as indicated at 43.

It will be apparent from this that the inner unit It at its forward endis connected to the outer runner unit by the tie rods 35 in such amanner that the inner unit can float up and down without affecting theouter runner unit. when the inner unit floats up and down, both ends othe tie rods will pivot around their. pivot points and the rods willmove vertically in the slots 4| .and 42. Furthermore, the brackets 36may be adjusted along plates 24 to keep the runner members verticalandto maintain them in their prop-'- er positions relative to the sidemembers ll of the unit It.

The rear end of the unit It is tied to the outer,

runner unit in practically an identical manner to the outwardlyprojecting verse beam 2|] at the rear end of the inner floating unit IS.The L-shaped brackets 35, in this. v

instance, are slidably mounted on this beam 20.

As previously stated, the section 9 at the rear end of each of therunner members maybe .swung laterally relative to the section 2 whendesired.. However, in order to normally prevent beam 44 extendingtransversely and having its outer ends pivotally connected to. the innersurface of the sections 9 as indicated at 45. This beam 44 serves toconnect the sections 9 together and maintain themin parallel relationeven when they are swung out of alignment with the sections 2. I furtherprovide a pair of rods 48'which have their inner ends pivotallyconnected to the beam 20 as indicated at 41, adjacent the middle of thebeam 29. These rods extend outwardly at an angle and have their forwardends bent downwardly at right angles, the downwardly bent portions beingadapted to fit ,into openin'gs48 adjacent the ends of the beam 44. Itwill be apparent that when the rods are in the position indicated inFigures 2 and 6, the sections 9 will be rigidly held in position andcannot move out of alignment with the sections 2. However, if the outerends of these rods are lifted so as to remove their bent portions fromthe openings 48, swinging of the sections 9 out of alignment with thesections 2 will be permitted.

The two runner units may be spaced farther apart or closer together byadjustment of bolt and nut mechanisms 39 at the innerends of tie rods 35and adjustment of the connections 45 at the ends of beam 44. Thisadjustment is desirable, in some instances, as when a levellirig-oflcourse is first laid over-a rough graded surface or rough surface of anold road and then a finishing course is laid. After the levelling-offcourse is laid, the runners may be adjusted closer together so that theywill run on the edges of the levelling-off course, the machine thenlaying a finishing course which is slightly narrower than the firstcourse.

The Qcreed unit As previously indicated, i t' is very important todesired thickness and contour. This screed is so mounted that it willnot be aifected by irregularities in the surface being covered and overwhich the machine passes: As previously stated, the

runner members I pass over the rough surface each section 2 of therunner members I, substantially midway between the ends of the section 2and at a location behind the heater and spreading member 21. This screedunitembodies a pair of transversely extending beams'50 which extend forthe entire width of the machine and project through the openings 49.These beams may be tied together by bars of metal 5| riveted on theupper edge thereof at suitably spaced intervals.

The screed proper is formed by a bottom plate member 52, which has avertically extending flange 53 disposed at right angles thereto. Theflange 53 is at the rear side of the plate member 52 and the forwardedge of this plate 52 is upturned as indicated at 55. This upturnedportion 55 is bolted or riveted to the lower edge of a plate 56 which isof substantial height and forms the forward wall of the screed member.The screed proper, comprising plates 52 and 56, is tied to thetransverse beam members 50 by means of a plurality of tie rods 51, theserods being disposed at intervals along the beams 50. Each of these rodshas its lower end pivotally connected tothe inner surface of plate 52 asindicated at 58. The upper ends of these rods pass through openings inthe bars 5| disposed along the upper edge of the beams 50. By adjustingnuts 59 which are threaded on the upper ends of these rods above thebars 5|, the rods may be independently adjusted vertically in order toput the desired crown in the screed proper.

Adjacent each of the bars 5|, which are disposed on the beams 50,another bar 60 is disposed, which is riveted to the beams 50 and whichprojects outwardly from each beam. A similar bar 6| is disposed inalignment with each of these bars 60 and is similarly securedto thelower edges of the beams 50. A thrust bolt 62 is threaded into anopening in the projecting portion of the bar 60 and through acorresponding opening in the projecting portion of the other bar 6|. Oneof these bolts is disposedat each side of the unit formed by the twobeams 50. The screed proper, comprising plates 52 and 56, is tied to thebeams 50 by meansof the tie rods 51 as previously explained. It is tiedto the beams 56 in such a man ner that the plate 52 thereof will bespaced a slight distance below the lower edges of beams 50. The thrustbolts 62 project below the bar 6| and contact with the inner surface ofplate 52.

Although I only show one of the units, consisting of bars 60 and 6| andthrust bolts 62, and one of the units, consisting of bar 5| and rod 51,in Figure '1, it will be understood from Figure 4 that a plurality ofeach of these units is disposed at intervals along the beams 50. Byadjusting the various rods 51, disposed along the screed unit, the platemember 52 may be crowned in any predetermined manner to produce asurface of the desired contour. By means of the thrust bolt 62, theforward edge of plate 52 may be caused to be in line with the rear edgethereof, or the plate may be tilted with its forward edge raised so thatit will not only level 01! the material spread by the machine, but willexert a downward thrust thereon, compacting the material. Because of thefact that the lower ends of tie rods 51 are pivotally connected to theplate 52, it may be tilted as desired. This will be accomplished byadjusting the bolts 62 at the rear side of the screed unit downwardlyfarther than the corresponding bolts at the forward side thereof.

The screed unit is suspended from the outer runner unit in such a mannerthat it may be reciprocated transversely thereof. For this purpose, eachof the beams 50 is provided at each end thereof with an outwardlyprojecting bar 63. Each of these bars is bolted toan inverted L- shapedbracket 64, as indicated at 65. The brackets 64 are bolted to the upperedges of'beams 50, as at 66. The pair of bars 63 at each end of thescreed unit straddle a block member 61 formed on the lower end of avertically extending rod or. shaft 62. This block 61 has rotatablymounted thereon a pair of rollers 69. The bars 63 will rest on theserollers 69. Each of the rods 68 extends up through a bearing member 16,disposed on the outer end of a bracket 1| which is bolted or riveted tothe section 2 of the runner member l, as indicated at 12. The upper endofthe rod 68 is threaded as at 13. A hand-wheel 14 is threaded thereonabove bearing member 10. It will be understood that by operating thehandwheel 14, the corresponding end of the screed unit may be raised.Thus, either or both ends of the screed unit may be raised or lowered.It will also be apparent that the screed unit may be reciprocatedtransversely of the machine, by means to be -described, and that thisreciprocation will be permitted because the bars 63 will merely rideback andforth on the rollers 69.

The upper edge of plate 56 is preferably turned rearwardly at rightangles at 15 for strengthening such plate. In order to furtherstrengthen the plate, a plurality of L-shaped brackets 16 may beemployed. These brackets will be disposed at spaced intervals and thevertical portions thereof will be connected to plate 56 by pin and slotconnections, as shown in Figure '1, and the horizontal portions thereofwill be bolted or riveted to the upper edge of the forwardmost beam 56.

into openings 49 formed in the; sections 2 of the runner members Inorder to permit easy 'reciprocation of the screed member transversely ofthe machine, without generation of an undesirable amount of frictionbetween the rear surface 53 of the screed proper and the rear wall ofopening 49, I provide idler rollers "at the rear sides of the openings49. These idlers are suitably mounted so that they may easily rotate andpreferably extend the entire height of openings 49. It will beunderstood that when the forward side of the screed member contacts withthe material being spread, it would exert a rear thrust on the screedmember and if the rollers 11 were not provided; it might develop so muchfriction between the rear side of the screed member and the rear wallsof openings 49 as to pre vent transverse reciprocation of the screedmember. However, these rollers 11 prevent this.

As previously described, each end of the screed unit may be adjusted toits desired height. The thickness of the layer of material spread, willbe determined'by the vertical position of the screed unit. Therefore, itis desirable to provide one or more shim members I8 at each end of thescreed unit below the lower surface thereof, to accurately gauge theheight to which the-screed member is adjusted. Each of these shimmembers has an open mouth I9 at forward end which fits around roller 11.Thus, this end of the shim member will be held in place. The other endof the shim member will be held in'place by 'an' th" screed member.These'plates are always in overlapping relation to each other. The.plate member 25 will not interfere with vertical adjustment of thescreed member.

The traction or propelling means The traction or propelling means isshown clearly in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive. As illustrated in thesefigures, this traction or propelling means comprisesa pair of wheelmembers 8|, disposed on each side of the machine. These wheel membersare disposed outside of the runner members I and are adapted to operateon the rough graded or other roughly finished surface for an old roadbedoutside of the area to be covered by the machine. Thus, thetwheels willnot operate on the surface produced by the machine and mar such surface.

The wheel members 8I preferably have pneu matic tires of largecross-sectional area mounted thereon in, order to obtain satisfactorytraction.

Each of the wheels 8 I is rotatably mounted'on the outer end of an axlemember 82. Each of these axle members passes inwardly through a verticalslot 83 (Figure 5) which is of considerable length and which is formedin the section, 2 of the runner member. The inner'end' of the axle iskeyed in a bearing member, mounted on the side member I! of the innerunitI8. .The axles are of sufficient length to permit"lateral adjustmentof the runners. The axle members 82 on each side'of the machine arerigidlytied together by a loiigitudinally extending beam 85. A sprocket86 is rigidly fastened to the wheel member 8I so that it will rotatetherewith. The two sprocket members 88 of each pair of wheels areoperably connected together by. a sprocket chain 8.1. Thus, when one ofthe pair of wheels rotates, the pther wheel thereof will rotate.

It will be apparent from this that the wheels will contact with thesurface outside of the area 'to be covered; They'willoperate on therough surface follow the contour thereof; Be-

cause they operate over the irregularities of the rough surfacathey willmove bodily up and down.

This up and down movement will causethe inner I but will floating unitI8 w move up and down not affect the runner members, and, consequently,the screed members, since the. axle members" are free to move verticallyin the slots 83 formed in the sections 2 of the 'r members.

the medium of a sprocket Ili -The In order to prevent friction betweenthe edges of slots 83 and the axle members, which might interfere withthe floating action of the inner unit I6'relative to the outer runnerunit, I provide the following structure: This structure embodies a linkmember 88 (Figure 6), which has its rear end pivotally connected to theinner surface of v the side member I! as at 89. The forward'end of thislink 88 "is provided with a roller 98, extending. at right anglesthereto and suitably mounted thereon. This roller 98 extends through anarcuateslot 9| formed in'the member IT. The outer endof this roller 98is secured to the inner surface-0f the section 2 of the runner members.1

It will be apparent. that when the traction wheels 8I are driven theywill move the innerunit I8 along and, because of the links 88 androllers 98, the outer runner unit will be moved along therewith, withouthaving the axles 82 contact with the edges of slots 23. The links 88will exert a pull on the runner unit; which will drag it along with theinner unit and the entire machine will be propelled along thesurfacebeing covered and-without developing friction between axles 82 and theedges of slots 83, thereby interfering with the floating action of unitI8, relative to the outer runner unit.

The driving mechanism meshes with a gear 94, mounted at the middlb of ashaft 95, This shaft 95 has a sprocket mounted at each end thereof. Theshaft 95' is rotatably supported in .a suitable manner. The sprocket 98at the rearend of this shaft-is connected to a sprocket9'l by meansofasprocket chain 98.

The sprocket 91 is keyed on a horizontally extending shaft 99, which isrotatably mounted in a suitable manner. The forward end of this shaft 99has'a crank arm I88 keyed thereon. This crank arm- I88 is pivotallyconnected to a horizontally extending I8I (Figure 4) which has itsopposite end pivotally connected to-a vertical link I82. The verticalI82 is pivoted as at I83 and its lower end is pivotally connected to asubstantially horizontally extending link I84 which is in turnpivotallyconnected to the upper end of the screed unit, as indicated atI85. Thus, when shaft 99 is rotated by the power unit 92, the screedunit will be reciprocated backand forth transversely of the machine.

The shaft 99 is also adapted to drive the.

- spreading member 21. Thus, the rear end of the shaft is provided withabevel gee-r188 which mesheswith'a bevel gear I81 keyed on the outer endof a shaft ',I88 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings. Theshaft I88.passes out;

wardly through the side member II and its outer end has a sprocket I89keyed thereon. This sprocket I89 is disposed between member I! and thesection 2 of; the runner-member (Figure 2). The sprocke "I connected bymeans of a chain II8, to procket III which is keyed on the inner endof-a sub-shaft II2 (Figure- 5). The

shaft 2 is rotatably mounted on member I 1 and has a second sprocket II3 keyed on its outer end.

This sprocket II3 drives a sprocket Ill through sprocket H4 is keyed onthe outer end of the shaft 3I of the spreading member 21. Thus, thepower unit, through the medium of the mechanism. just described, willrotate the spreading member 21 andwill simultaneously causereciprocation of the screed member.

The power unit 92 also drives the tractionmeans or propelling means formy'machine. Thus, the sprocket H6 at the forward end of the shaft 35;(Figures 2 and 6), drives a sprocket chain II1 which extends upwardlyaround a sprocket H8. The sprocket H8 is keyed on the rear end of ashaft I I9 which is rotatably mounted in a suitable manner in bearingmembers I20. Substantially midway between its ends this shaft '9 has alarge gear I2I loosely thereon. At its forward end it has a sprocket I22loosely mounted thereon. The member I2I and the member I22 normally donot rotate with the shaft IIS. However, each of these members has a jawwhich may be engaged by a jaw clutch member I23.

By operation of lever I24 the jaw clutch may be versely extending shaftI32 which is rotatablyv mounted in I g members I33. The forward end ofshaft I26 (Figure 2) has a sprocket I34 keyed thereon. This sprocket isoperatively connected to. the sprocket I22 by means of a chain I35, 1

It will be apparent that when the jaw clutch I23 causes the gear I2I torotate with shaft H3 but does not cause sprocket I22 to rotatetherewith, the .shaft'l26 will also rotate but in an opposite directionand will permit rotation of sprocket I22 in an opposite direction to therotation of shaft I I3. This will cause the shaft I32 to rotate in acertain direction through the medium of the connecting-mechanismdescribed and will drive the traction wheels 8|, through the medium ofmechanism to be described, in a direction to propel the machineforwardly. If the clutch I23 is operated to cause sprocket I22 to rotatewith shaft II! and to permit gear I2I to idle thereon, the shaft I26will be driven in the same direction of rotation as the shaft H9 or in adirection opposite to that in which it was previously driven. Therefore,the shaft I32 will be ber I I, a substantial distance and disposedadjacent the upper edge thereof. Adjacent each outer end of the shaftI32, a sprocket I3! is keyed.-

This sprocket drives a chain I 39 which passes around a sprocket I4II,fastened to the rear'wheel 6| in such a manner as to rotate therewith.Thus,

. rotation of shaft I32 drives the traction wheels members are operatedby handle members I42 thereto, the upper ends of coil springs disposedon a platform I43 mounted at the rear of the unit I6 and on one sidethereof. These handles I42 are connected by suitable linkage mechanismI44 to the clutches. These clutches operate independently of each other.

Thus, it will be apparent that the clutch member I at one end of theshaft may be disengaged so that the traction wheels at one side of themachine will not operate while the clutch at the opposite side of themachine may be operative, to cause the traction wheels at that side ofthe machine to operate. Thus, the traction means at either side of themachine may be operated without operating the traction means at theother side of the machine. Because of this, the machine maybe readilyturned when desired and main- I4I may be rendered inoperative so thatneither of the traction means will operate. The machine may be readilyturned, if it is moving forwardly or if it is moving rearwardly.

The supporting structures I31 have secured I45. These tensioned coilsprings. have their lower ends connected to the sections 2 of the runnermembers I. They serve to exert a lifting force on the runner unit inorder to prevent the development of too much friction as the runnersslide along the surface upon which they operate.

The operation of the machine When the machine is to be operated, thescreed member is first adjusted to its proper vertical position toproduce a layer of material of the desired thickness. It is alsoadjusted to produce the desired crown on the surface produced by themachine.

The driving mechanism is then -operated to cause the spreading andbeating member 21 to rotate'in the proper direction and to causereciprocation of the screed unit. The-hopper member is then filled withhot asphalt or other material to be spread. The traction wheels are thendriven by the mechanism described and the machine is propelled forwardlyin the direction indicated by the arrows in the drawing.

The spreading member 2-1 spreads the material which passes downwardly inthe hopper therearound across the surface to be covered in oppositedirections. Because it embodies a plurality of small spaced blades itwill also beat the material and break it up. It compacts the materialagainst the surface being covered and also against the side forms whichare formed by the runner members 'I. Thus, the machine will produce alayer of material with straight edges. The material spread by thespreading member 21 is leveled oif to the proper thickness and contourby the screed unit disposed behind the spreading member 21. Thus, alayer of material of desired thickness and contour is produced.

Although the traction wheels might operate on.

a rough surface, the irregularities of such surface will not bereflectedin the surface produced by the screed member. This is due to the factthat the traction wheels are mounted on the inner unit I6 which mayfloat up and down, relative to the outer runner unit consisting mainlyof the runner members I The screed member is mounted on the runnermembers which are of comparatively great length and which will pass overthe rough surface and will not follow the depressions and bumps of suchsurface. Thus, the surface produced by my machine will be very level andeven and devoid of depressions and bumps. Although tained on its propercourse. Both of the clutches the spreading member 21 will move up anddown, this will not affect the flnished surface, since the screed memberis the member which ultimately levels of or finishes the surface of thelayer formed by my machine. I

The .runner members I extend behind the spreading member 21 and thescreed member a considerable distance and, consequently, these memberswill cooperate with the edges of the layer of material already spread inmaintaining the machine on its course. However, if the machine tends toleave its course, the traction wheels at the proper side of the machinemay be rotated without operating the traction wheels on the other sideof the machine and in this manner the machine may be steered along itsproper course. As previously stated,;ordinarilythe sections 9 of therunner members will be in alignment with the sections 2. However, theymay be swuri'g laterally to either side out of alignment with thesections 2, when desired, to facilitate passage of the machine aroundcurves or corners. The

- runner members I are of such a type that they will merely slide overthe rough surface and will not dig into such surface.

In Figure 8, I have illustrated more or less diagrammatically a machinewhich is identical with that previously described. with the exceptionthat different means is provided f r propelling it along the surfacetobe covered. ,(In this instance, a series of small supportingrwheels orrollers 8Ia are provided but the trac ion drive to the supporting wheelsis eliminated. The propelling mechanism constitutes a drum member I46which is keyed on a shaft I41, this shaft being driven from the powerunit 920 through the sprocket and chain drive indicated generally by thenumeral I48. One of these drum members only is shown, but it will beapparent that a drum member is mounted at eachside of the machine oneach of the sections 2a. A cable I49 is adapted to wind on the drummember I 46 and has its inner. ends suitably fastened thereto. Thiscable passes downwardly along the inclined upper edge I50 of the section2a and underneath an idler pulley I 5| rotatably mounted thereon. Theouter ends of the pair of cables I49 will be connected to stakes orother structures dispos'ed adjacent the edges of the surface to becovered and located a substantial distance ahead of the machine.

In propelling this machine along the surface to be covered, the two drummembers will be r3- tated at the same rate of speed. This will ,causethe cables I49 to wind on the drum members I46. Winding of the cablesI45 on the drum members will cause the machine to be pulled alongtowards the members to which the outer ends of the cables I49 areconnected.

-It will be understood from the preceding de-. scription that Ihaveprovided a machine having many advantageous features, most of which havebeen specifically pointed out and others of which will be apparent. Thismachine is particularly adaptable for spreading asphalt or other bitumenmaterial over an old roadbed, a rough graded-surface or other roughsurface, although it is not necessarily limited thereto. One of the mainadvantages of this machine consists in the fact that the irregularitiesin the surface being covered will not be reflected to any materialextent in the surface of the layer of material produced by this machine.This machine .will produce a layer or the edges of the surface beingcovered, since the runner members forming :a part of the machine serveas side forms. Also, the spreading and heating member of my machine is,of such a nature that it is particularly suitable for spreading asphaltor other sticky materials. Another advan tage of my machine, resides inthe fact that it may be easily guided and therefore kept on its propercourse. Furthermore, one man alone may operate this machine in a veryeflicient manner.

Many other advantages will appear from the preceding description, thedrawings and the appended claims. By the term screed member used in thefollowing claims, I intend to cover any member which is used forleveling off the material to the desired thickness and contour, such asa strikeofi plate and other equivalent members.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: L

1. A machine of the type described comprising a mmner-unit, a screedmember mounted on said runner unit in such a-manner that it may berec'iprocated transversely thereof, means for vertically adjusting saidscreed member, means for adjusting said screed member to produce thedesired crown on the surface produced by the machine, means for tiltingthe lowersurface of said screed member, a spreading unit, means fortying both of said units together, the spreading unit that it may floatup and down relative thereto. 2. A machine of the type describedcomprising a runner unit embodying a plurality of runners,a screedmember carried by said runners, a spreadbetween said units during thefloating action.

being tied to said runner unit in such a manner 3. A machine of the typedescribed comprising a runner unit embodying a plurality ofrunners, ascreed member carried by said runners a spreading unit including amaterial-receiving hopper, a rotatable spreading member forspreading thematerial across the surface to be covered disposed at the lower end ofsaid hopper, said spreading unit being tied to said runner unit in suchamanner that it'may float up and down relative thereto during movement ofthe machine over the surface to be covered, and means for preventingsubstantial relative lateral move- 1 ment between said units timing thefloatingaction.

4. Amachine of the type described comprising Y a runner unit embodying aplurality of runners,

a screed member carried by said runners, a spreading unitv including arotatable spreading member for spreading the material across the surfaceto be covered, said spreading member comprising a plurality of narrowblades helically arranged, and means for tying said runner unit to saidspreading unit in such a manner'thatthe spreading unit may float up anddown relative to said runner unit during movement of the machine overthe surface to be covered, said means preventing substantial relativelateral movement between said units.

5. Amachine of the type described comprising a runner-unit embodying aplurality of runners, a screed member carried by said runners, a

.spreading'unit including a rotatable spreading member for spreadin thematerial across the manner that the spreading unit may float up and downrelative to said-runner unit during movement of the machine over thesurface to be covered, said means preventing substantial relativelateral movement between said units.

6. A machine of the type described, comprising a runner unit, embodyingapair of runners, a screed member carried by said runners, a spreadingunit, means for tying said spreading unit to said runner unit in such amanner that it may automatically float up and down-relative theretoduring movement of the machine over the surface to be covered, tractionand propelling means mounted on said spreading unit and adapted tooperate outside of the inner surfaces of said runners, the traction andpropelling means being so mounted that they float up and down with saidspreading unit, and means for driving the tractioh and propelling meansatone side of the machine without affecting the traction and pro:pelling means at the opposite side of the machine.

'7. A machine of the type described, comprising an outer unit, a screedmember mounted on said outer unit, an inner spreading unit, and meansfor tying said inner unit to said outer unit in such a manner that itmay float up and down relative thereto during movement of the machineover the surface to be covered, said means preventing substantialrelative lateral movement between said units. v

8. A machine of the type described, comprising a runner unit, embodyinga pair of runners, traction and propelling means for moving said runnerunit along the surface to be covered, 'said traction and propellingmeans operating outside of the inner surfaces of said runners and beingmounted in such a manner that they may float up and down-withoutaffecting said runner unit during movement of the machine over thesurface to be covered, and means for preventing substantial relativelateral movement between said traction and propelling means and saidrunner unit during the floating action.

9. A machine of the type described, cgmprising an outer unit, a screedmember mounted on said outer unit, an inner spreading unit, means fortying said inner unit to said outer unit in such a manner-that itmayfloat up and down relative thereto during movement of the machine overthe surface to be covered, said means preventing substantial relativelateral movement between said 'units, and means .for propelling themachine along the surface to be covered.

10. A machine of the type described, compris ing an outer unit, a.screed member carried by said outer unit, an inner, spreadingunit, meansfor tying said inner unit to said outer unit in such a manner that itmay float up and down relative thereto during movement of the machine-over the surface to be covered, said means preventing substantialrelative lateral movement between said'units, and means for propellingthe machine along the surface to be covered, said means comprising-apair of drum members mounted on the machine. cables having their in nerends secured to said drum members and their outer ends, secured tomembers disposed ahead of the machine, and means for rotating said drummembers to cause the cables to wind thereon.

- side of the inner surfaces of the runners so that spreading unit andoperating outside of the=inner surfaces of the runners, means for tyingsaid runner unit to said spreading unit in such a manner that thespreading unit may float up and down relative to the runner unit, saidmeans including springs tied to said spreading unit and said runner unitfor reducing the friction developed by said runners in sliding along.

12. A machine of the type described comprising a runnerunit including aplurality of runners, a screed member carried-by said runners, aspreading unit carrying traction members which operate outside the innersurfaces of said runhers, and means for tying both of said unitstogether in such a manner that they may float up and down relative toeach other during movement of the machine over the surface to becovered, said means preventing substantial relative lateral movementbetween said units. I

13. A machine of the type described comprising an outer runner unitembodying a pair of parallel runners extending longitudinally of themachine and being of considerable length, said runners being adapted toslide over the surface to be covered and being adapted to serve as sideforms to shape the edge of the layer of material produced by themachine, a screed member carried by the runners, said screed memberextending transversely of the runners and being disposed substantiallyat right angles thereto at a point substantially midway between theforward and rear ends of said runners, means for vertically adjustingsaid screed member relative to said runners, a spreading unit,.saidspreading unit including a hoppenarran'ged directly in front of saidscreed member, a rotatable spreading mem ber disposed in saidhopper andadapted to feed the material in the hopper laterally of the surface tobe covered,-traction and propelling means carried by said spreadingunitand operating outside of the inner surfaces of the runners so thatthey will not operate on the layer of material produced by the machine,means for tying said runner unit to said spreading unit in such amannerthat the spreading unit may float up and down relatively to the runnerunit during movement of the machine along the surface to be covered,said means including springs tied to said spreading unit and said runnerunit for reducing the friction developed by said runners in slidingalong the surface to be covered.

14. A machine of the type described comprising a runner unit embodying apair of parallel runners extending longitudinally of the machine andbeing of considerable length, said runners being adapted to slide overthe surface to be covered and being adapted to serve as side forms toshape the edge of the layer of material produced by the machine, ascreed member carried by the runners, said screed member extendingtransversely of the runners and being disposed substantially at rightangles thereto at a point intermediate the forward and rear ends of said'runners, a spreading unit, said spreading unit including ahopp'erarranged directly in front of said screed membenja' rotatable spreadingmember disposed at the bottom of said hopper and adapted to feed thematerial laterally of the surface to be covered, traction and propellingmeans carried by said spreading unit and operating outspasm they willnot operate on the layer of material produced by the machine, and meansfor tying said runner unit to said spreading unit in such a manner thatthe spreading unit may float up and down relative to the runner unitduring movement of the machine along the surface to be covered, saidmeans preventing substantial relative lateral movement between saidunits.

15. A machine of the type described comprising a runner unit embodying apair of parallel runners extending longitudinally of the machine andbeing of considerable length, said runners being adapted to slide alongthe surface to be covered and being adapted to serve as side forms toshape the edge of the layer of material produced by the machine, ascreed member carried by the runners, said screed member extendingtransversely of the runners and being disposed substantially at rightangles thereto at a point intermediate the forward and rear ends of saidrunners, a spreading unit, traction means carried by said spreading unitand operating outside of the inner surfaces of the runners so that theywill not operate on the layer of material produced by the machine, andmeans for tying said runner unit to said spreading unit in such a mannerthat the spreading unit may float up and down relative to the runnerunits during movement of the machine along the surface to be covered,said means preventing substantial relative lateral movement between saidunits.

16. A machine of the type described comprising a runner unit embodyingparallel runners extending longitudinally of the machine and being ofconsiderable length, said runners being adapted to slide along thesurface to be covered, a screed member carried by the runners, saidscreed member extending transversely of the runners and being disposedsubstantially at right angles thereto at a point intermediate theforward and rear ends of said runners, and a spreading unit tied to saidrunner unit in such a manner that it may float up and down relative tothe runner unit during movement of the machine along the surface to becovered, and means for preventing substantial relative lateral movementbetween said units during the floating action.

17. A machine of the type described comprising a runner unit embodying aplurality of runners, said runners being of considerable length andbeing adapted to slide along the surface to be covered, a screed membercarried by said runners, a spreading unit, means for tying both of saidunits together, said spreading unit being tied to said runner unit insuch a manner that it may float up and down relative thereto duringmovement of the machine over the surface to be covered, said meanspreventing substantial relative lateral movement between said units.

18. A machine of the type described compris-- ing a runner unitembodying a plurality of runners, said runners being of considerablelength and being adapted to slide along the surface to be covered, ascreed member carried by said runners in such a manner that it may bereciprocated transversely thereof, a spreading unit, means for tyingboth of said units together, the spreading unit being tied to saidrunner unit in such a manner that it may float up and down relativethereto during movement of the machine over the surface to be covered,said means preventing substantial relative lateral movement between saidunits.

19. A machine of the type described comprising a runner unit embodying aplurality of runners, said runners being of considerable length andbeing adapted to slide along the surface to be covered, a screed membercarried by said runners in such a manner that it may be reciprocatedtransversely thereof, means for reciproeating said screed member, meansfor vertically adjusting said screed member relative to said runners, aspreading unit, means for tying both of said units together, thespreading unit being tied to said runner unit in such a manner that itmay float up and down relative thereto during movement of the machineover the surface to be covered, said means preventing substantialrelative lateral movement between said units.

20. A machine of the type described comprising a runner unit embodying aplurality of runners, said runners being of considerable length andbeing adapted to slide along the surface to be covered, a screed membercarried by said runners in such a manner that it may be reciprocatedtransversely thereof, means for vertically adjusting said screed memberrelative to said runners, means for adjusting said screed member toproduce the desired crown on the surface produced by the machine, aspreading unit, means for tying both of said units together, thespreading unit being tied to said runner unit in such a manner that itmay float up and down relative thereto during movement of the machineover the surface to be covered, said means preventing substantialrelative lateral movement between said units.

21. A machine of the type described comprising a runner unit embodying aplurality of runners, said runners being of considerable length andbeing adapted to slide along the surface to be covered, a screed membercarried by said runners, a spreading unit including a rotatablespreading member for spreading the material across the surface to becovered, said spreading unit being tied to said runner unit in such amanner that it may float up and down relative thereto during movement ofthe machine over the surface to be covered, and means for preventingsubstantial relative lateral movement between said units during thefloating action.

22. A machine of the type described comprising a runner unit embodying apair of runners, said runners being of considerable length and beingadapted to slide along the surface to be covered, a screed membercarried by said runners, a spreading unit, means for tying saidspreading unit to said runner unit in such a manner that it may float upand down relative thereto during movement of the machine over thesurface to be covered, said means preventing substantial relativelateral movement between said units, and traction means disposed outsideof the inner surfaces of said runners.

23. A machine of the type described comprising a runner unit embodying apair of runners, said runners being of considerable length and beingadapted to slide along the surface to be covered, a screed membercarried by said runners, a spreading unit, means for tying saidspreading unit to saidv runner unit in such a manner that it may floatup and down relative thereto during movement of the machine over thesurface to be covered, said means preventing substantial relativelateral movement between said units, and traction means mounted on saidspreading unit and being disposed outside of the inner surfaces of saidrunners.

. 24. A machine for forming a layer or slab from material withoutsetting forms along the edge thereof comprising a runner unit embodyinga plurality of runners, said runners being adapted to slide along thesurface to be covered and being adapted to serve as side forms to shapethe edges of the layer or slab of material produced by the machine, ascreed member carried by said runners, a spreading unit, means for tyingboth of said units together, said spreading unit being tied to saidrunner unit in such a manner that it may float up and down relativethereto stantial relative lateral movement between said units.

25. A machine of the type described comprising a runner unit embodying aplurality of runners, said runners being of considerable length andbeing adapted to slide along the surface to be covered, a screed membercarried by said runners, a second unit carried by traction means whichoperate outside of the inner surfaces oi. said runners, and means fortying both of said units together in such a manner that they may floatup and down relative to each other during movement of the machine alongthe surface to be covered, said means preventing substantial relativelateral movement between said' units.

' JOSEPH H. MOSEL.

DISCLAIMER 2',054,436.J0seph H. Mosel, Columbus, Ohio. APPARATUS FORBUILDJNG RoAns. Patent dated September 15, 1936. Disclaimer filed May15, 1939, by the assignee, 17w Jaeger Machine Company. Hereby entersthis disclaimer to claims 7, 16, 17, and 24 inysaid specification.

[Ofimlal Gazette June 6, 1939.]

